The Atlanta constitution. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1885-19??, 1887-11-29
GULLEY'S THEORY.
How He Proposes to Restore the
Worn-Out Land.
IA WONDERFULLY SUCCESSFUL FARM

Correspondence Of The CONSTITUTION. The
EARNING operations Of the Mississippi agricui-
1ufel college here are very extensive, and the
result of those operations are somewhat I'M
usual. The farm, and 1t is large one, is not
only self-sustaining, but is actually source OF
lIeYenue 20 the college.
& This fact, more than any other, perhaps, is
she main reason why the institution has grown
Fin tho confidence and favor OF the public. The
Hafmers, as a rule, have but little respect for
Theoretical agriculture, but when they behold
with their own eyes the theory in successful
Epractce, it challenges their admiration, aud,
Though at first unwilingly, nevertheless gains
their confidence and respect.
The agricultural feature of the college is I'M
der the personal supervision Of Professor f. A.
<fulley, who in addition to the chair Of agri-
culture holds the place Of superintendent OF
farm work. Professor Gulley is young man,
and has been with the college since its organi-
laation; graduate Of the University OF Melt
igsn. practical and experienced agricultural,
III is difficult TO imagine man better qualihed
Ito fill the onerons position he occupies
lspcnt one whole day with him, together we
Went over the two thousand acres comprising
the place, each field was visited, and the metl-
DDS and system employed in the production OF
tho crops were carefully explain
ed. Combined with great intell-
gonce. rare judgment, Professor Gulley
has all Of tho energy and progress OF the
great northwest and in eight years he has con-
yerted an old, worn out place in north Miss's-
sippi into MS fino and productive plantation
as any IN that section.
1t is interesting to know the means he en-
ploycd ITO follow him in hs work, and as Pres
idcnt IeercmarlSed the other day if the college
has succeeded in doing nothing besides teaching
the people how to restore worn out land tho
benefits TO be derived from that RnowI-
edge win more than compensate
for amy outlay that has been made
in tho establishment Of the in
stiiutiou. The late lamentcd Fuman in Gcor-
gin popuarized q system Of farming known as
the intensive system, and his memory Is held
in sacred recollection almost by his agricul-
1ural brethren all over tho country. Fur
mans work was great one, and he VOL de-
served the applause and fame he received, but
how much greater the service to the state and
10 tho farmer is the work Of a man who has
taught them how torestorc to fertility land that
for years had been abandoned as practically
worthless and unproductiyc. And that has
been Prof Gullcy work in Mississippi.
lie calls his system the extensive one in con-
tradiction to the intensive system; he has
written much about il that has attracted alton
ton among agrouturalist5 all over the coun-
try, but he has done better than that he
placed il in operation on the college farm, and
the results as shown in the increased value of
the land, in Its increased productive power,
has more than justified the expectations OF
the professor, and his college associates, in the
SUCCESS of the theory and the system.
When Prof. Gulloy took charge of the farm,
lit contained 1914 acres, 1850 of which were in
cultivation. The place originally had been
cotton plantation, planted year after year in
that staple, and consequently had gotten so
: poor that the very negro tenants upon it had
left IL 10 keep from starving. 1t was in th
condition when the state purchased it for tho
college, General Lee told me the other day that
when he saw the character of the land upon
which he had to work, and upon which the in
ettuton was to make It's record, that his heart
failed him. and he could not see
way out OF the difficulty. Prot. Gulley said
today that whom he first looked over the place
ho thought the outlook for success was very
poor But both men went to work, and with
energy and skill mado out of what thoy be-
lieved az first was their ruin rs conspicuous a
success as was over displayed to the publice eve
Hero and there upon the place were strips of
good bottom land and upon that it was easy
enough TO succeed. Wherever the land wa
good enough for cultivation the intensive sys-
tenn was followed, but for a number of years
the work of Professor Gullcy was TO build IN
and rchablitate his worn-out land.
Let MS see how he did it. He saw that cot
ton could never be successfully raised upon the
iand for long period, and he at once dismiss
ed all idea Of planting it. He saw that the
hope of the farm consisted in restoring tho
land TO fertility, and to do that it was necesso
ly TO have cattle, All the mouoy no could
Command he invested in common cattle, at The
same time buying n fine Jersey bull. lie
fenced oil the hillsidcs into different fields
and turned his hold upon IT, at the same time
feeding thom upon cotton seed After pastur-
ling for year or longer lac cndcavored to Get
stand of japan clover, which grows wild in
some sections, and which is a popular food
with stock This clover or seed will NOT
grow upon poor lund and whenever il shows
up in good stand you may Ice certain that
the land is getting in good condition Now.
the result Of this paSturng was two fold:
first, the cattle were daily cnrruiing the land.
and the cattle were also daily getting fattor
Boiled cotton seed as food produced the fol-
lowing results with Prof. GuUey: Twovery
ordinary steers, in n poor untrlty condition,
were fed upon boiled cotton seed. besides re-
l.
old, ghng 7os pounds, was fed Sc DAYS and
gained 80 pounds, or AGA pounds per day
Steer No. >. twenty months old. weighing $50
pounds, fed - days. gained 2lO pounds. or 4. 50
pounds per day. Prof Gullcy estimates the
gain in weight 20 have cost not exceed
ing u cents per pound. The value al
the manure arising from cotton seed
food is largely in excess OF the ordinary
manure in point of fertilizipg properties. Tic
pasturage OF the land in this manner produced
the two-iold reSults-mcrease in fertility and
in tho value of tho cattle When the cattle
would consume everything upon the land. the
Japan clover would be allowed to- get a Good
stand, whom that too would be pasturod. This
Is fattening TO cattle and very appetzinr and
NJ the same time its roots contain large fertil-
iaing properties that assisted ina onrichinp The
land. The clover was allowed TO stand saw
two years. when the cattle were taken off and
the land broken up, but the curiohing process
pursued by an intelligent system Of planting
For instance, the first year he would pln1l
corn, followed by peas, which were turned uu.
der. The secondNcar cloverNvould be planted.
and IL was allowed TO remain the third wear.
Each year two crops were Gathered from, fi.o